Combination-washbench.



No. 805,331. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

A. T. WILGOX.

COMBINATION WASHBENGH. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

21 1 Q5 18 'l I Y WIIIIIIIIIIIIA A Wilt Wow No. 805,331. PATENIED NOV.21, 1905. A. T. WILGOX.

COMBINATION WASHBENGH.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 25,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABIJAH T. WILCOX, OF J AMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOEDWARD F. FENTON, OF J AMESTOWN NEW YORK, AND

EPENETUS N. JACKSON COMBINATION-WASHBENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed November 25, 1904- Serial No. 234,132.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABIJAH T. WILCOX, a citizen of the United States,residing at J amestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of NewYork, have invented a new and usefulCombination-Washbench, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to the improvement of the washbench so that itshall become a more useful household convenience, and the objects of myimprovement are, first, to provide the main central standard withintersecting inclined slots which shall permit of the drip-board beingused in a similar relation to each side of the device in a fixedposition; second, the insertion of a partition between the two sides ofthe standard beneath said drip-board in suitable slots, so that thecontents of one tub cannot pass into the other; third, theinsertion of abench board'or seat in slots in the folding side or tub supports, whichin combination with the partitionboard of the central standard shallform a seat with a back, and, fourth, the cutting of notches in thefolding side pieces and central standard, into which the removable seator back board can be inserted to hold said central standard at aninclination and the arrangement of the cross-cleats on the parts in sucha manner as to form a strong step-ladder suitable for washing windowsand like uses about the house.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the unfolded washbench withthe sides extended. Fig. 2 is a sectional view at line X X in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upper part of the standard with thedripboard inserted vertically to form the upper part of the back of theseat. Fig. 4: is a side elevation with one side unfolded and the otherside folded and arranged for use as a stepladder. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the folded washbeneh. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of thesame.

Similar numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 10 indicates the central standard, which is formed byvertical ends placed opposite one another and connected by suitablecross-cleats 11 and 12 and avertical wringer-board 13 at the top.Wringer-board 13 is placed to one side of the center of standard 10 toallow for a vertical slot 1 1, in which is removably inserted a verticalpartitionboard 15.

Directly beneath vertical wringer'board 13 the oppositely-inclinedintersecting slots 16 are cut on the inner sides of the end boards ofstandard 10 to receive the drip-board 17. Drip-board 17 is so looselyfitted in slots that constant moisture will not cause it to swell tosuch an extent that it cannot be instantly removed and inserted in theoppositely-inclined intersecting slots to deflect the water to theopposite side of the standard. Drip-board 17 can also be removedfromintersecting slots 16 and'inserted vertically, as shown in Fig. 3,forming the upper part of the vertical back formed by boards and 17.

The folding bench or tub supports 18 are attached on the outer sides ofstandard 10 to fold onto the same, as shown in Figs. 4:. 5, and 6, andwhen so folded parts 18 are held in place by suitable buttons 19 onstandard 10, which buttons extend out over the parts when folded. Thetub-supports 18 are pivotally attached at 20 on the outer sides ofcentral standard 10, the cross-cleats 12 being placed just below saidpoints of pivotal attachment and extending out, so that supports 16 restupon the cleats 12 when unfolded. The upright sup ports or legs 21 forthe outer end of supports 18 are pivotally attached near the outer endsof the supports 18, and the cross-cleats 23 are so placed as to engagethe under side of supports 18 when the supports 21 are brought down tothe desired angle of incline. A further crosscleat 22 connects the twouprights of the supports 21 and gives added stiffness to thesupporting-uprights by forming a frame of the two cross-cleats 22 and 23and the uprights. On the inner side of the side pieces of the supports18 1 cut a lengthwise groove 24 and removably insert a seat or benchboard 25, which gives added strength and stiffness to the tub-supports18 and may be used as a seat. I also cut notches 26 on the inner side ofthe side pieces of the support 18 and corresponding notches 27 in theedges ofstandard 10. It is now apparent that by removing one of theseat-boards 'or the vertical backboard 15 and inserting it at an inclinein notches 26 and 27, as shown in Fig. 4, the central standard 10 isheld at an angle of incline suitable for a step-ladder, and thecross-cleats 11, 22, and 23 form three steps for the same, which are ofsufficient height for washing windows and like uses about the house. Theupper cross-cleat 23 is arranged to come opposite the lower edge ofdrip-board 17, as shown in Fig. I, and the drip-board thus forms a broadupper step to stand upon. The wide base of the central standard, thebrace, and the unfolded tub-support 18 hold the ladder exceptionallyfirm to stand upon.

I claim as new 1. In a washbench, a central standard composed of twouprights and connecting crosscleats, a vertical wringer-board in the topof said standard, intersecting slots on the inner sides of said uprightsbeneath said wringerboard, a drip-board removably inserted in saidslots, vertical slots on the inner sides of said uprights, a partitionslidably mounted in said vertical slots beneath said drip-board, andfolding benches pivotally attached on opposite sides of said standard,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a washbench, a central standard composed of two uprights andconnecting crosscleats, a partition or backboard vertically securedbetween said uprights, folding bench side pieces. pivotally attached onopposite sides of said central standard, leg-supports pivotally attachednear the outer ends of said bench sides to fold onto the same,lengthwise slots on the inner sides of said bench sides, and seat 011'bench boards removably inserted in said s ots.

3. In a washbench, a central standard composed of two uprights andconnecting crosscleats, bench side pieces pivotally attached on oppositesides of said central standard, legsupports pivotally attached near theouter ends of said bench sides to fold onto the same,

lengthwise slots on the inner sides of said bench sides and'seat-boardsremovabl y inserted in said slots, cross-cleats on said legs anduprights arranged to form steps, and notches in said bench sides anduprights to receive one of said removable seat-boardsin a bracingposition between said parts to hold said uprights at an incline,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a washbench, a central standard 10 composed of two uprights andconnecting cross-cleats 11 and 12 on opposite sides, a verticalwringer-board 13 in the tops of said uprights, intersecting slots 16 ontheinner sides of said uprights beneath board 13, a dripboard 17removably inserted in said slots, vertical slots 14 on the inner sidesof said uprights, a partition-board 15 removably inserted in saidvertical slots, folding bench side pieces pivotally attached on oppositesides of said uprights to bear on the. cross-cleats 12, folding legs 21pivotally attached near the outer ends of said side pieces, cross-cleats23 near the upper end of legs 21 to bear against the under surface ofsides 18 and cross-cleats 22 near the lower ends of legs 21, slots 24 onthe inner sides of the side pieces and seatboards 25 inserted in saidslots, and notches 26 and 27 in said sides and uprights, to receive oneof said seat-boards 25 in a bracing position to hold the uprights in aninclined position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABIJ AH T. WILOOX.

